Cap skirt



Feb. 14, 1967 w. R. FRANK CAP SKIRT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 22, 1965 INVENTOR %&e7/1g Z7 W@7 twi w -51 ATTORNEYS W. R. FRANK Feb. 14, 1967 CAP SKIRT 2 Sheets-$heet 2 Filed Oct. 22, 1965 Y I {/VVENTOR BY 2% W 4! A T TORNE Y5 United States Patent O 3,303,953 CAP SKIRT Walter R. Frank, Elmhurst, IlL, assignor to W. R. Frank Packaging Engineers, Inc., a corporation of Illinois Filed on. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 501,582 12 Ciairns. (Cl. 215-38) This invention relates to container closures and more particularly to inexpensive and decorative cap skirts which may be made part of such container closures to improve their appearance and operability.

As an adjunct to modern marketing techniques, containers are being designed with particular attention paid to their attractiveness and aesthetic effect. Not only are containers themselves assuming various shapes, but their closures, lids or caps are being designed to match. One of the limitations in the effective design of some cap closures is the cost of changing the shape of metal caps and lids used with many containers such as bottles or JalS.

It is possible to vary the shape of these caps; but there is a point where the expense of varying the shape of the cap, combined with the functional limitations on the shape of the inner surface, e.g., the need to provide threads or other container attachment means, becomes prohibitive. The decorative appearance of such caps has generally been limited, therefore, to applying printed matter to their outer surfaces.

The structures contemplated by the present invention are designed to counteract this problem by providing inexpensive and decorative cap skirts which may be fitted over the outer surface of a cap to vary its appearance without altering the structure of the closure. Such cap skirts may enclose only the sides of a cap, thereby leaving the top portion open for identifying legends, may completely enclose and cover the cap, or may be used to lock in place some type of decorative member or figurine extending up from the top surface of the cap. In any case, the aesthetic appearance of the closure is considerably improved while the outer surface of the cap is enlarged to assist in gripping the closure for removal from its container.

A cap skirt of the present invention is a substantially rigid device which may be molded from a thermoplastic or thermosetting synthetic polymeric material. It is provided with a skirt portion to be fitted to the outside of the closure and a lip portion extending inwardly to overlap the top surface of the closure. The outer surface of the cap skirt may take on any number of distinctive shapes, while the inner surface is provided with means for rotatively and longitudinally locking it in place when attached to the cap.

Numerous other advantages and features of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and one em bodiment thereof, from the claims, and from the accompanying drawings in which each and every detail shown is fully and completely disclosed as part of this specification, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing one shape cap skirt affixed to a cap attached to a container;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of another shape cap skirt which is part of a container closure;

FIGURE 3 is an exploded view showing the overall relationship between a container cap and the cap skirt of the present invention;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged partial sectional view showing a cap skirt attached to a cap by adhesive;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged sectional view looking from underneath the closure showing a cap skirt and cap,

locked together by means of a lock notch;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged sectional view showing a cap skirt locked to a cap by means of a button;

FIGURE 7 shows an undercut cap skirt frictionally fixed to a cap;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view looking from the bottom of the closure in which the cap and cap skirt are locked together by matching continuous serrations;

FIGURES 9 and 10 show a cap skirt attached to the cap by means of an annular snap ring and notch; and

FIGURE 11 is an exploded view of a modification of the present invention showing the cap skirt arranged to hold a figurine or similar decorative member against the top surface of the cap.

In the closure incorporating features of the present invention, there is provided cap skirt 20 which is de-' signed to fit over a container cap 22 having a generally planar container-covering top surface 24 and a depending container-engaging flange portion 26. The cap flange 26 may conveniently be provided with an outwardly rolled head 28 at its lower edge. The inner surface 30 of the cap flange 26 may be formed in any convenient manner for attachment to the container 32, such as by threads 34 or by forming it with a snap-on ring 36, such as shown in FIGURE 10.

The cap skirt 20 includes a skirt portion 38 which fits around the outside of the cap flange 26 and a lip portion 40 extending inwardly from one edge thereof to overlap and rest on the top surface 24 of the cap 22. The upper surface of the lip 40 and the outer surface of the skirt portion 38 may be formed in a plurality of various shapes to enhance the appearance of the cap 22 to which it is attached.

The cap skirt 20 of FIGURE 1, for example, is provided with a generally cylindrical serrated skirt portion 38a and a lip 40 with an inclined upper surface 42. The cap skirt 20 of FIGURE 2, on the other hand, is provided with a lip portion 40 with its top surface 44 generally co-planar to the cap top 24, but has a skirt portion 38 in which the outer surface is divided into two frusto-conical segments 46, 48 extending outwardly from either edge to form a ridge 50 at their intersection.

When the cap skirt 20 is placed around the container cap 22, it is rotatively and longitudinally locked relative to the cap to allow for utilization of the closure with the cap skirt in place on the cap. An adhesive 52 may be used as such a locking means which, when'applied to the inner surface of the skirt portion 38, causes the two pieces to adhere together when the cap skirt 20 is attached to the cap 22. Alternatively, some mechanical means may be used to supplement the adhesive 52 or may be used instead of the adhesive to lock the cap skirt and cap relative to each other.

- For example, the inner surface of the skirt portion 38 may be formed to include an integral longitudinally extending bead 54 which, as shown in FIGURE 5, engages a corresponding notch 56 on the outer surface of the cap flange 26 to prevent relative rotational movement between the cap and the skirt. This connection, in addition to a friction fit or in addition to the adhesive 52 locks the cap 22 and skirt 20 together.

The inner surface of the skirt portion also may be formed with one or a plurality of buttons 58 extending therefrom, as illustrated in FIGURE 6, which would engage a corresponding number of detents 60 formed in the flange portion 26 of the cap 22. The button-detent arrangement would both rotatively and longitudinally lock the cap and cap skirt together.

In FIGURE 7 the inner surface of the end of the skirt portion 38 is undercut at 62 to provide a tight frictional fit between the skirt 20 and the cap 22. In FIGURE 8 matching continuous serrations 64, 66 on the outer surface of the cap flange 26 and the inner surface of the skirt, respectively, mesh when the pieces are attached to each other to provide a tight frictional fit which locks the skirt and cap together.

The embodiment shown in FIGURES 9 and 10 is particularly suited for a cap of the press fit type, although it is not limited to thattype of cap. In this embodiment the inner surface of the skirt portion 38 includes an annual bead 68 integral therewith which engages a corresponding groove 71] in the outer surface of the cap flange 26. In addition to this mechanism which longitudinally locks the two pieces together, a longitudinal bead (not shown) and notch 56', similar to that shown in FIGURE 5, may also be provided if positive rotational locking is also desired.

The cap skirt 20 may be used not only to alter the outer appearance of a container closure, but can be used to attach some decorative figure or figurine 72 to the top 24 of a container cap 22. As shown in FIGURE 11, the decorative figure 72 is provided with a suitable planar portion 74 designed to rest on the top surface 24 of the cap. The lip 40 of the cap skirt 20 would not only overlap the cap itself, but would also engage the planar portion 74 of the figurine 72 to hold it in place on top 24 of the cap when the skirt was attached. This type of an arrangement might be particularly suitable to containers which would be directed to the children since it would be possible to remove the figurine for use as a toy or plaything, separate from the container.

A cap skirt incorporating the features of the present invention may be formed from thermoplastic or thermosetting polymeric materials and can be easily molded and inexpensively fabricated to fit over various shapes and sizes of metal or other plain container caps. The cap skirt can be formed in any number of various shapes and can be provided with a number of different means for locking it relative to the cap, including adhesive or mechanical devices which allow the skirt to be easily fitted to the cap and lock it in position.

It Will be readily observed from the foregoing detailed description of the invention and the illustrated embodiments thereof that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concepts and principles of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A closure for containers comprising in combination a cap having a generally planar container-covering top portion, a container-engaging flange portion longitudinally depending from the periphery of the top portion; a substantially rigid cap skirt including a flange-surrounding skirt portion fitted to the outside of said cap flange and provided with an inner surface with minimum dimensions no less than the maximum outer dimensions of said cap flange portion, and an outer surface differently shaped than and with dimensions larger than said inner surface,

and a lip portion integral with said flange-surrounding skirt portion disposed at an angle to and extending inwardly from one edge of said skirt portion to overlap and rest on said cap top portion; and means associated with the inner surface of said skirt portion and the outer surface of said cap flange portion for rotatively and longitudinally locking said cap skirt and said cap relative to each other.

2. A closure according to claim 1 in which the means for locking said skirt relative to said cap comprises an adhesive bonded to the inner surface of said skirt portion and engaged by said cap to cause adhesion between the cap and said cap skirt.

3. A closure according to claim 1 in which the inner dimensions of said skirt portion are substantially identical to the outer dimensions of said cap flange whereby the cap skirt is press-fitted on the cap.

4. A closure according to claim 3 in which said rotatable locking means further includes a longitudinal bead integral with and disposed along the inner surface of said skirt portion engaging a corresponding notch in the outer surface of said cap flange whereby said skirt is rotatably locked relative to the cap.

5. A closure according to claim 1 wherein said means for locking said cap skirt relative to said cap includes a button on the inner surface of said skirt engaging a corresponding detent in the outer surface of said cap flange.

6. A closure in accordance with claim 1 in which the locking means includes an undercut inner surface of said skirt portion adjacent the edge thereof frictionally engaging the outer surface of the cap flange adjacent the rolled head.

7. A closure in accordance with claim 1 in which the locking means comprises continuous serrations on the inner surface of the skirt portion engaging corresponding continuous serrations on the outer surface of the cap flange.

8. A closure in accordance with claim 1 in which the locking means includes an annular bead integral with and extending from the inner surface of the skirt portion engaging a corresponding annular groove in the outer surface of the cap flange. v

9. A closure in accordance with claim 1 in which said substantially rigid cap skirt is molded from a synthetic polymeric material.

19. A closure in accordance with claim 1 in which said lip portion overlaps a figurine positioned on the top portion of'said cap whereby the figurine is attached to the closure.

11. In a closure for containers including a cap having a generally planar container-covering top portion, a container-engaging flange portion depending from the periphery of the top portion, and an outwardly rolled bead formed at the lower extremity of said flange portion; a substantiallyrigid cap skirt for said cap comprising a skirt portion to be fitted to the outside of said flange and having an inner surface with dimensions substantially identical to the outer dimensions of said cap flange portion, an outer surface differently shaped than and with dimensions larger than said inner surface, and a lip portion integral with said flange surrounding skirt portion and disposed at an angle to and extending inwardly from one edge of said skirt portion for overlapping said cap top portion; and means associated with the inner surface of said skirt portion for coacting with the outer surface of said cap flange portion when said rigid cap skirt is positioned about said cap for rotatively and longitudinally locking said cap skirt and said cap relative to each other.

12. In a closure for containers including a cap having a top portion and a flange portion depending from the periphery of the top portion; a molded cap skirt comprising a skirt portion for positioning the cap skirt around the outside of the cap flange portion having an inner surface With dimensions no less than the outer dimensions of the cap flange portion, and an outer surface differently shaped than and with dimensions larger than said inner surface, a lip portion integral with said flange surrounding skirt portion disposed at an angle to and extending inwardly from one edge thereof, and means associated with the inner surface of said skirt portion for rotatively and longitudinally locking said cap skirt and said cap relative to each other when said cap skirt is positioned around the cap. 7

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,511,093 10/1924 Pfefferle 22024 X 2,074,830 3/1937 Conner 215-43 3,249,248 5/1966 Metzendorf 215--43 JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

D. F. NORTON, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS COMPRISING IN COMBINATION A CAP HAVING A GENERALLY PLANAR CONTAINER-COVERING TOP PORTION, A CONTAINER-ENGAGING FLANGE PORTION LONGITUDINALLY DEPENDING FROM THE PERIPHERY OF THE TOP PORTION; A SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID CAP SKIRT INCLUDING A FLANGE-SURROUNDING SKIRT PORTION FITTED TO THE OUTSIDE OF SAID CAP FLANGE AND PROVIDED WITH AN INNER SURFACE WITH MINIMUM DIMENSIONS NO LESS THAN THE MAXIMUM OUTER DIMENSIONS OF SAID CAP FLANGE PORTION, AND AN OUTER SURFACE DIFFERENTLY SHAPED THAN AND WITH DIMENSIONS LARGER THAN SAID INNER SURFACE, AND A LIP PORTION INTEGRAL WITH SAID FLANGE-SURROUNDING SKIRT PORTION DISPOSED AT AN ANGLE TO AND EXTENDING INWARDLY FROM ONE EDGE OF SAID SKIRT PORTION TO OVERLAP AND REST ON SAID CAP TOP PORTION; AND MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID SKIRT PORTION AND THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID CAP FLANGE PORTION FOR ROTATIVELY AND LONGITUDINALLY LOCKING SAID CAP SKIRT AND SAID CAP RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER. 